00642 Verges Booklet - Devon County Council

category 3,4,5 and high speed category 6) where 85th percentile
speeds in excess of 40mph are attained;
(c) no tree or shrub likely to exceed a trunk diameter of 100mm
when mature should be planted within 2 metres of the
carriageway on residential, collector and access roads
(maintenance category 6, 7 and 8) where 85th percentile speeds
are less than 40mph;
The restrictions in (a) above may be relaxed in traffic calmed
areas if vehicle speeds are unlikely to exceed 20mph.The
restrictions in (a), (b) and (c) may be relaxed at any location
where planting would be protected by appropriate safety fencing;
(d) no tree or shrub likely to exceed 600mm in height when mature,
should be planted within 2 metres of the edge of the
carriageway, though it may be possible to relax this requirement
in some circumstances subject to expert advice;
Shrubs not attaining the mature height of 600mm may well be
encouraged as ground cover within 2 metres of the carriageway;
(e) no new planting of trees or shrubs likely to exceed 600mm in
height should be undertaken within a visibility area or in such a
position that when mature would interfere with visibility.This
requirement may be relaxed following consultation with the
Network Management Road Safety Group where 85th percentile
traffic speeds are less than 20mph and the planting would not
form a solid visual barrier;
(f) no tree or shrub should be planted on the approach or near to
any railway level crossing without first seeking agreement with
the rail authority. Consultation should take place with Network
Rail or the appropriate private railway company;
(g) no tree or shrub should be planted which would, when mature,
interfere with street lighting or obscure traffic signs or signals;
(h) certain types of trees should be avoided because of potential
dangers to road users from excessive leaf fall, honey dew, falling
branches, fruits and nuts etc;